Low-income Seminole County residents get new food pantry in Sanford

Low-income Seminole County residents can now get help from a food pantry at the Florida Department of Health office in Sanford — the result of a novel partnership between the government and a small nonprofit organization.

"We hadn't heard of anyone doing this before, but it made sense," said Gloria Rivadeneyra, the health department's spokeswoman. "We already have a community that is coming to us that needs this type of help."

The new pantry — open Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. — is operated by Feed The Need Central Florida, an all-volunteer charity that has been providing food through a Sanford church. Since launching on a trial basis six weeks ago, its health-department pantry has provided enough food for 4,000 meals.

"It has been a wonderful relationship of the health department sending us people, and us sending them people," said Reginia Kelly, who founded Feed The Need with her husband, Dan, in 2013. "The need is so big."

Any Seminole County resident who qualifies for food-stamp assistance or the federal nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is eligible to receive food at the department's pantry. Kelly and volunteers pass out bags of groceries to make breakfast and dinners for individuals and families. Also, health department clients who sign up for government aid can get food on the spot if they need it.

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Feed The Need also serves a Thursday-evening meal and has its original pantry at Lion Of Judah House Of Worship in Sanford.

The charity is hoping to recruit more volunteers as well as donations of food and funding. Kelly's larger mission is to open a local community center that can offer classes, showers, laundry services and other aid to homeless and low-income residents.

Food donations can be brought to the health department, preferably on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, at 400 W. Airport Blvd. in Sanford. To volunteer, go to feedtheneedcf.com.